Automotive drive axle



I Feb. 14, 1939. el w. CARLSON- ET AL AUTOMOTIVE DRIVE AXLE 3Sheets-Sheet 1 I Original Filed o 't. 16, 1936 NFORS I? LSO .B Poss/P7-d fiusssu.

INVE 6037:41/ h/ 614 ATTORNEYS Feb. 14, 1939.

G, w. CARLSON El AL 2,147,146

AUTOMOTIVE DRIVE AXLE Original Filed Oct. 16, 1935 3 Sheets-Shea: 2

ATTORNEY Fb. 14, 1939. s. w. CARLSON Er AL 251472146 AUTOMOTIVE DRIVEAXLE Original Filed Oct. 16, 1936 s sheets-sheet 3 v ATTORNEY-ZINVENTORS Patented Feb. 14,1939

Gustav w. Carlson, Cleveland Heights, and Robert 0. Russell, ShakerHeights, Ohio, assignors to Eaton Manufacturing Company, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Origina Cleveland,

1 application October 16, 1936, Serial No.

Divided and this application March 19, 1938. SerlalNo. 197.022

The present invention relates to drive axles for automotive vehicles andmore particularly to a straight-type double reduction drive axle, and

this application is a continuation of our earlier filed applicationSerial No. 105,900,. filed October An object of the invention is theprovision of a novel and improved straight-type double reductionautomotive driveaxle comprising means for it) lubricating a rotatablemember or part thereof located above the normal level of the lubricantin the lubricant reservoir in the axle housing at all speeds within therange of operation of the vehicle.

another st of the present invention is the provision of a ncvei andimproved straight-type double reduction automotive drive axle comprisinga scraper member continuously held in resilient engagement with the ringgear and differ- 20 ential assembly and/or the jack shaft assembly forsupplying lubricant to various bearings, rotatable members, etc., of theaxle located above the normal level of the lubricant in the lubricantreservoir of the axle housing, at all Speeds within 25 the range ofoperation of the vehicle.

The present invention resides in certain novel details of construction,combinations and arrangements of parts, and further objects andadvantages thereof will be apparent to those ,30 skilled in the art towhich it relates from the following description of the preferredembodiment thereof described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings,forming a part of this specification, in which similar reference char-35 acters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, andin which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view with portions broken away and in section of anautomotive double reduction rear axle embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is aside elevation, with portions broken away and in section, ofthe device shown in Fig. 1 looking from the right.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, with portions broken away and in section, ofthe device shown in Fig. 1, 45 looking from the left.

Fig. .4 is a section on the line 4-! of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section onthe line 5-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a section on theline H of Fig. 2, and

60 Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the collector or scraper shown inFig. 4.

, The present invention relates to straight type double reduction driveaxles of the type employed in automotive trucks and the like, and isherein ll illustrated and described as embodied in such an axle. Theautomotive axle herein shown and described is a well known commercialstandard straight-type doublereduction rear axle for an automotive truckmodified so as to embody the present invention, and only those partsthereof which are necessary to a complete understanding of the presentinvention will be herein referred to and described.

Iii referring to the drawings the reference character'A designatesa-Jour pinion bevel gear type differential assembly rotatably supportedon antifriction bearings ill in bosses ll formed integral with thedifferential carrier housing detachably connected to the axle housing B.The differential assembly is connected to the drive axles l4 and I5 andis adapted to be driven from the drive shaft l6 rotatably supported byanti-friction bearings l1 and i8 in differential carrier housing l9 by adouble reduction gear train the first reduction of which is throughspiral bevel gears 20 and 2|. The bevel pinion 20 is formed integralwith the shaft i6 and the bevel gear 2i is formed integral with acountershaft 22 rotatably supportedsby anti-friction.bearings 23 and 24in the housing I9. The second reduction is through herringbone gearscomprising a pinion 25 formed integral with the countershaft 22, and aring gear 26 continuously in mesh with the pinion 25 fixed to theleft-hand differential casing 21 in any convenient manner. The bevelgear 2|, herringbone pinion 25, and countershaft '22 are hereinafterreferred to as the coun'tershaft assembly and designated in general bythe reference character C. The drive shaft [6 is adapted to be Loon-'nected with and driven from the main propeller or-drive shaft of thevehicle in a conventional manner..

Prior to the present invention lubrication of certain of the members ofthe axle, such as the bearings l1, I8, 23, and 24, was dependent uponcentrifugal force, but at slow speeds the centrifugal force produced wasinsuflicient to provide adequate lubrication for these bearings, etc.,with the result that they became unduly hot, and in 5 many instancesfailed. According to the provisions of the present invention thebearings referred to are supplied with an adequate amount of lubrlcatlonat all speeds within.

operation 'of the vehicle by collectors'or scrapers which collect orscrape lubricantfrom rotating parts or members of the axle which extendinto and rotate through the lubricant in the lubricant reservoir in thebottom of the axle housing, and passages or'ports, etc. which conductthe the range of of the aperture 3|.

lubricant from the collectors or scrapers to the bearings.

As shown, lubricant is supplied to the righthand'bearing 24 for thecountershaft assembly C and the bearings I! and I8 for the shaft. I 6-by a collector or scraper D of substantially tubular shape provided witha partition or flange projecting from the lower part thereof, slidablysupported in a cylindrical aperture 3| in the forward removable housingIS. The collector D is continuously pressed into contact with therighthand side of a vertical disk 32 bolted or otherwise secured to theright side of the bevel gear 2| by a spring 33 interposed between thecollector D and a plug .34 threaded into the outer tapped end The disk32 rotates through the lubricant in the reservoir in the axle housing B,the normal level of which is indicated generally by the dot-dash lineson Figs. 2 and 3. As the disk rotates lubricant is collected or scrapedtherefrom by the collector D and conducted to the bearing 24 by apassage or port 35 formed in the housing IS, the upper end of whichaligns with an opening 35 in the rear half of the scraper D. The lowerend of the passage 35 opens into the chamber or recess 31 within whichthe bearing 24 is located or retained.

The lubricant which is collected in the forward part of the collector orin front of the partition is conducted to the bearings l1 and I8 byapassage or port also formed in the housing or differential carrier IS.The upper end of the passage 40 aligns with an aperture 4| in thecollector D, and the lower forward end thereof communicates with oropens into air annular channel or groove 42 exteriorly of a member 43,within which the bearings l1 and i8 are supported. From the channel 42the lubricant flows into the interior, of the member 43 and to thebearings I! and I8 through holes 44. From the interior of the mem-- ber43 the lubricant returns-to the reservoir in the axle housing throughthe bearings il andi8. The'forward end of the bearing it is connected tothe reservoir in the axle housing through the medium of a passage 45which communicates with the chamber or recess at the forward end of thebearing and an annular passage 46 formed by a groove cut in the exteriorof the member 43 forwardly of the groove 42 previously referred to. Thelower part of the passage 66 opens into the forward end of a passage 61,formed in the housing IS, the rear end of which opens into the lubricantrecess. The forward end of the collectorD, as viewed in Fig. '7, is madeto conform to the disk against which it engages and the upper side 48 iscut away on an angle so that the lubricant on the disk can readily flowinto the interior thereof.

Lubricant is supplied to the left-hand bearing 23 by a scraper E,similar to the scraper D less the partition, slidably supported in anaperture 50 in the left-hand side of the housingl9. The scraper Eengages a disk 5| secured to the differential assembly A in anyconvenientmanner, as by being positioned under Belleville type springWashers 52 fixed to the end of the bolts which secure the two halves ofthe differential case together. The scraper E is continuously urged intoengagement with the disk 5| by a spring 55 interposed between the outerend thereof and a plug 56 threaded into the-outer tapped end of theaperture 50.. The lubricant collected therein is conducted to thebearing 23 by a channel or passage 51 in the housing IS, the upper endof which aligns with an aperture 58 in the collector, while the lowerend communicates with or opens into the aperture or chamber 59 withinwhich the bearing 23 is supported. The right-hand end of the collector Econforms to the side of the disk 5| against which it engages and theupper side thereof is cut away at an angle to allow the lubricant toreadily enter the interior thereof. From the foregoing it will be seen'that with the present construction, lubricant will be collected fromthe disks 32 and SI by the collectors D and E respectively, and suppliedto the respective bearings at all speeds-within the range of operationof the vehicle. y

The springs interposed behind the scrapers D and E provide asubstantially constant pressure between the scrapers and the disksagainst which they engage and allow the scrapers to readily follow thedisks which may not run exactly true. This construction also reduces thenoise to a minimum. If desired the partition in the scraper D may beomitted or may be moved to one side or the other, thus diverting alarger or smaller proportion of the lubricant scraped from the disk toone or the other of the bearings. In connection with, either collector,it will be apparent that one or more partitions may be employed thusdividing the scraper into a corresponding number of compartments, all ofwhich may be connected to various parts of the axle. In the presentinstance additional members have been provided in the form of disks'which the collectors engage, but it is to be understood that thecollectors or scrapers may be made to engage directly against somerotating member of the as- .sem'bly such as the back of the bevel gear2| or the left-hand side of the ring gear if desired. The scrapers areinsertable into the apertures in the diiferential carrier from. theoutside of the housing which together with the fact that all of theoperating parts are carried by the dili'erential carrier housingfacilitates assembly, maintenance, etc., and produces a rugged reliableconstruction.

From the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of theinvention it will be apparent that the objects of the inventionheretofore enumerated have been accomplished and that there has beenprovided a .novel and improved straight-type double reduction automotivedrive axle comprising means for supplying lubricant to a rotating memberor part thereof located above the normal level of the lubricant in thereservoir thereof at all speeds within' the range of operation of thevehicle. While the preferred embodiment of the invention has beendescribed in considerable detail we do not wish to belimited to theparticular construction shown which is merely illustrative of theinvention which may be varied within the scope thereof. It is ourintention to hereby cover all adapa tations, modifications and usesthereof that come within the practice of those skilled in the art towhich the invention relates and we particucountershaft assembly, meansfor, rotatabiy supporting said countershaft in said differential carrierwith the lower portion thereof extending below the normal level of thelubricant in said .'reservoir,1a pinion in mesh with the bevel gear ofsaid countershaft assembly for rotating the latter, means for rotatablysupporting said pinion in said differential carrier, said differentialcarrier having an aperture therein, a lubricant scraper slidablysupported in said aperture in said differential carrier, means for.yieldably urging said lubricant scraper into continuous contact withsaid annular surface of said ring gear and differential assembly, andmeans for con-- ducting lubricant from said scraper to the secondmentioned means.

2. In a straight-type double reduction automotive ,drive axle, thecombination of an axle housing, a differential carrierdetachably fixedto said axle housing and forming with said axle housing'a lubricantreservoir, a ring gear and differential assembly rotatably supported insaid differential carrier with the lower portion thereof extending belowthe normal level of the lubricant in said reservoir; a pinion and bevelgear countershaft assembly having a continuous annular surface thereon,means for-rotatably supporting said countershaft assemblyin saiddifferential carrier with the lower portion of said annular surfaceextending below the normal level of the lubricant in said reservoir, apinion in mesh with the bevel gear of said countershaft assembly fordriving the latter, means for rotatably supporting said pinion in saiddifferential carrier, sa d differential carrier having. an aperturetherein, a lubricant scraper or collector slidably supported in saidaperture in said diflferential carrier, means for yieldably urging saidlubricant' scraper or collector into continuous contact with saidannular surface of said pinion and bevel gear countershaft assembly, andmeans for conducting lubricant from said scraper to the first mentionedmeans. 3. In a double reduction strai ht-type automotive drive axle, thecombination of an axle housing, a differential carrier detachably fixedto said axle housing 'and forming with said axle. housing a lubricantreservoir,-a ring gear and differential assembly rotatablv supported insaid differential carrier w th the lower portion thereof extendin belowthe normal level of the lubricant in sa d reservoir, a pinion and bevelgear countershaft assembly having a continuous annular, surface thereon.means for rotatablv sum portin said countershaft assembly in said dlf-eferential carrierw th the lower portion of said annular surfaceextending below the normal level 70 diii'erential carrier for conductinglubricant -from fmotive drive axle, the combination of an. axle saidscraper to the second mentioned means.

4. In a double reduction straighttype autohousins, a diil'erentialcarrier detachably fixed to said axle-housing, said differential carrierforming with said axle housing a lubricant reservoir and having anaperture therein, a ring gear and differential assembly rotatablysupportedin said diiferential carrier with the lower portion thereofextending below the normal level of the lubricant said reservoir, apinion and bevel gear countershaft assembly having a continuous annular'surfacethereqn, a bearing for rotatably supporting said countershaftassembly in said differential carrier with the lower portion of saidannular surface extending below the normal level of the lubricant insaid reservoir, a pinion in mesh with the bevel gear of saidcountershaft assembly for rotating the latter, a bearing forrotatablysupporting said pinion in said differential carrier, alubricant-scraper or (:01-

-.lectbr slidably supported in said aperture in said annular surface ofsaid countershaft assembly,

and means including conduits or passages formed in said differentialcarrier for conducting lubricant from said scraper to both said secondan said third mentioned bearings.

5. In a double reduction straight-type automotive drive axle, thecombination of an axle housing, a differential carrier detachably fixedto said axle housing, said differential carrier having a plurality ofapertures therein and forming with said axle housing a lubricantreservoir, .a ring gear and differential assembly having a continuousannular surface thereon, a bearing for rotatably supporting said ringgear and difierential. carrier withthe' lower portion of said annularsurface extending below the normal level of the lubricant in saidreservoir, a pinion and bevel gearcountershaft assembly having a con--tinuous annular surface thereon, a bearing for rotatably supportingsaidpinion and bevel gear countershaft assembly in said differentialcarrier with the lower portion of said annular surface of saidcountershaft assembly extending below the normal level of the lubricantin said reservoir, a pinion in mesh with the bevel gear of saidcountershaft assembly for rotating the latter, a'bearing for rotatablysupporting said .pinion in said diiferential carrier, a lubricantscraper or collector slidably supported in one of said'apertures in saiddifferential carrier, a spring Y and differential assembly, meansincluding a conduit or passage for conducting lubricant from saidscraper to the second mentioned bearing, a second lubricant scraper .orcollector slidably supported in another of said apertures in saiddifferential carrier, .9. spring positioned in said aperture behind saidsecond lubricant scraper or collector yieldably urging said secondlubricant scraper or collectorinto continuous contact with said annularsurfacefon said pinion and bevel gear countershaft assembly, andmeansincluding a conduit or passage formed in said difsaid second lubricantscraper or collector to both said second and third mentioned bearings.GUSTAV W. CARI-SON.

, ROBERT C. RUSSELL.

, ferentialcarrierfor conducting lubricant from

